Exchange Traded Funds

Reasons to Consider

For professional clients only

 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have
been designed to provide low-cost and
transparent access to the worlds markets,
combining the simple tradability of a share
with the diversified market access of a fund.
This document sets out some of the main
reasons to consider adding ETFs to client
portfolios and also discusses some of
the key features of HSBC Global Asset
Managements range of developed and
emerging markets equity ETFs.
What can ETFs add to your client
portfolios?
1 Straightforward
ETFs have a simple proposition: ETFs seek to track
the performance of an index as closely as possible.
Therefore, ETFs do not have an added expense of
maintaining teams of dedicated fund managers and
stock analysts whose primary objective is to look into
future performance prospects of single companies.
Instead, their portfolio selection process is based largely
on a quantitative, computer-based process. The use of
systematic quantitative approach also ensures that both
trading costs and tracking error are kept to a minimum.
4 Flexible
Many ETFs track popular global indices, which clients
will know and recognise. Index tracking itself is a
widely accepted investment approach, which has been
developed over the past 25 years.
As such, for clients who may otherwise choose to
invest in stock markets via other investment vehicles
(such as unit trusts/OEICs), ETFs can offer a more
straightforward way to invest, especially as they can be
bought and sold continuously throughout the day on the
stock exchange, like a share.
2 Diversified
ETFs offer exposure to an entire index via the purchase
of one share. From the outset, therefore, an ETF
investment is by definition more diversified than buying
a share in a single company.
ETFs can add further diversification to client portfolios
due to the fact that there is now a wide range of
ETFs available, offering market exposure to many
5 Transparent
different countries/regions and sectors around the
world. This feature can help clients construct globally-
diverse portfolios, thereby significantly reducing stock-
specific risk.
3 Cost-effective
ETFs have historically tended to have lower costs
than active funds and other types of mutual funds.
The primary cost associated with ETFs is the annual
Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF)*. This incorporates
elements such as the management fee and a list of
other costs carried by the asset manager; these include
administration, custody and audit fees, legal, regulatory
and registration expenses.
* Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF): charges taken from the fund over a
year. This figure excludes transaction costs.
ETF asset managers rebalance the ETF as its underlying
index, implement any required corporate actions and
manage dividend payments, removing the need to
manage a range of individual client portfolios actively in
order to ensure the close tracking of index performance.
The fact that investors obtain the potential benefits
of full exposure to an entire index via the purchase
of one share can make ETFs a more cost-effective
investment solution than buying all of the shares in
that index individually.
ETFs are very flexible; they can be bought and sold
intraday on exchange in the same way as a share. This
not only means that their prices can be constantly
monitored, but it also allows for ETF investments to be
bought and sold in a timely fashion, to reflect changing
client investment needs.
One key advantage of ETFs is that their diverse nature
- in particular the various countries/regions and sectors
where they can be invested - means that they can
be easily used as portfolio building blocks; either to
implement a core strategy of investment in a major
equity market (e.g. the US S&P 500 Index) or as
satellite investments, in areas such as single country
emerging market funds (e.g. China).
In the same way, this flexibility in buying and selling
means that ETFs can be used as easily for a long-term
investment as for a short-term investment.
ETFs are a very transparent investment product.
As a result, it is very easy for clients to know what
they own.
Most ETF providers - including HSBC - publish a full list
of the securities that they hold on a daily basis. There
are also fund factsheets available that cover areas such
as performance and costs. The fee structure of ETFs, as
represented by the OCF, is also transparent.
Other types of index funds (such as OEICs) may
only disclose their holdings on a monthly, quarterly
or annual basis (although top 10 holdings tend to be
provided monthly). With this in mind, it can be seen
that an ETF investment offers more transparency from
thisperspective.
Reasons to consider ETFs 3
 What can ETFs add to your client
portfolios? (contd)

6 A liquid product that can provide access to

hard-to-reach market areas

ETFs can be very liquid investment products, with this

liquidity derived from the liquidity of the underlying
shares within the index being tracked by the ETF.
This means that, for ETFs based on developed world
markets in particular, it is relatively easy to enter and
exit positions, with these ETFs generally having a lower
bid/offer spread, reflecting the easy access to the
underlying stocks and the higher supply and demand for
shares within the ETF. However, it must also be stated
that there are less liquid ETFs as well, especially those
ETFs that are based on less liquid equity indices.

One additional feature of ETFs is the fact that shares

can be created at any time via a process known as
creation/redemption in the Primary Market (where
shares are created and redeemed in return for baskets
of securities or cash without a meaningful impact
on the underlying market). This process acts as an
additional layer of liquidity.

As well as their liquidity, ETFs can also offer a simple

and cost-effective way of accessing harder-to-reach
market areas, such as Global Emerging Markets. This is
an area where we believe that HSBCs range of equity
ETFs has a particular advantage over funds offered by
other ETF providers, which we explain further overleaf.

7 A tax-efficient product

ETFs can also represent a tax-efficient investment

vehicle, as opposed to company shares. ETFs are
exempt from UK stamp duty when purchased via a
stock exchange. Most ETFs are also eligible for inclusion
in the stocks and shares component of a New Individual
Savings Account (NISA) or Self-Invested Personal
Pension (SIPP).

4 Reasons to consider ETFs

 HSBCs range of equity ETFs has been
designed with the client in mind. To that
end, HSBC has used its global footprint
to create a range of ETFs across both
developed and emerging market equity
indices that provide exposures to the
markets where our clients are looking
to invest.
 Why consider HSBC ETFs?
1 3
Market Access
HSBC offers a wide range of ETFs across both
developed and emerging markets, providing ample
opportunities for portfolio diversification. Overall,
HSBCs range of equity ETFs has a slight bias towards
Global Emerging Markets (15 out of 27 funds).
Emerging markets are accounting for a rising share
of international equity markets and consequently are
increasingly playing a growing role in asset allocation
within global investment portfolios.
HSBC has a long track record in emerging market
investment and we can subsequently offer direct
market access on many local stock exchanges. We
were the first provider in Europe to offer investors a
4
physically replicated Russian ETF investing in local
Russian stocks.
Moreover, we believe, the tracking error and tracking
difference across our range of Emerging markets ETFs
is very competitive, compared to both physical and
synthetic Funds.
2 The Security of Physically-Replicated Funds
HSBC only offers physically replicated ETFs. We believe
that the physically replicated approach allows for greater
transparency within the product.
Our investment approach is primarily based on
replication (i.e. owning all of the shares in the
underlying index) for 23 out of our 27 equity funds,
with the remaining 4 funds using a technique known as
optimisation (i.e. where we own a proportion of shares
in the underlying index, as it is not cost-effective or
feasible to buy all of the shares).
There is an alternative ETF investment approach, known
as synthetic (or swap-based) replication. These ETFs
use swaps and other derivative products to obtain
market access. However, we believe that the risks
associated with such ETFs the most important of
which is counterparty risk make them a less attractive
investment option.
6 Reasons to consider ETFs
Spotlight on Performance
HSBC compares favourably to its peers in terms of
tracking difference and tracking error (two common
indicators of ETF performance) across our range of
equity ETFs.
HSBCs robust quantitative portfolio management and
trading processes aim to ensure that HSBC ETFs are
able to track their benchmark indices closely. Moreover,
our overall investment approach remains conservative.
We believe in strong levels of risk management and
governance for our range of ETF products, aiming to
deliver minimum tracking difference and tracking error
at a competitive price to our clients.
Proven Track Record
HSBCs range of ETFs is managed by HSBC Global
Asset Management, a leading global investment
manager with a long track record of providing sound
investment solutions to a wide range of investors
around the world. We have been managing passive
investments around the world for over 25 years and
started managing ETFs in 2003.
HSBC started offering ETFs in Europe in 2009. We
currently offer 27 ETFs in Europe - that cover the
main developed and emerging equity markets - with
USD9.9bn of assets under management as at the end
of February 2016.
HSBCs established position in global emerging markets
means that we are well positioned to offer ETFs based
in these fast-growing areas of the world.
HSBC ETFs are all UCITS IV compliant, ISA and SIPP
eligible and have UK Reporting Fund status.
HSBCs ETFs carry no entry or exit fees. However, as
ETFs trade on stock exchanges, they are subject to bid-
offer spreads and broker commissions.
Key Risks
Market risk: Traded around Europe
The value of investments and any income from them can go HSBCs equity ETFs are listed on the main European exchanges
down as well as up, and investors may not get back the amount and registered for sale in several more European markets,
originally invested. making it easier for clients to access them.

Currency risk: For further information on HSBCs range of ETFs, including up-to-
date performance information, costs and current holdings, please
Where overseas investments are held, the rate of currency
visit www.etf.hsbc.com.
exchange may cause the value of such investments to go down
as well as up.

Emerging market risk: Conclusion

Investments in emerging markets are by their nature higher HSBCs range of developed market and emerging market equity
risk and potentially more volatile than those inherent in some ETFs offer easy tradability and the ability to provide diversified
established markets. market access, making them a potentially attractive investment
solution. In addition, our equity ETFs offer all of the advantages
Geographic risk:
of physical replication, coupled with a competitive cost structure.
Some of the ETFs invest predominantly in one geographic area;
therefore any decline in the economy of this area may affect the
prices and value of the underlying assets.

Russian risk:
There are significant risks inherent in investing in Russia, which
could affect the value of investment. These include a lack of
clarity in laws and regulations in the following areas: investor
protection, banks and other financial services, the Russian
economic system, taxation, transaction settlement and fiduciary
duty and responsibilities of company management.

Performance risk:
Past performance is not an indication of future returns.

Reasons to consider ETFs 7

 Contact
For more information, please contact us:

Email: Telephone: Website:

adviser.services@hsbc.com 0800 358 3011 www.assetmanagement.hsbc.com/passive

Important Information
This document is intended for professional clients only and should not be distributed to or relied upon by retail clients. The material
contained herein is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to any reader of this material
to buy or sell investments. Care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this document, but HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited
accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein. Any views expressed were held at the time of preparation and are subject
to change without notice.
HSBC ETFs are sub-funds of HSBC ETFs plc, an investment company with variable capital and segregated liability between sub-funds,
incorporated in Ireland as a public limited company, and authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The company is constituted as an umbrella
fund, with segregated liability between sub-funds. Shares purchased on the secondary market cannot usually be sold directly back to the
Company. Investors must buy and sell shares on the secondary market with the assistance of an intermediary (e.g. a stockbroker) and
may incur fees for doing so. In addition, investors may pay more than the current Net Asset Value per share when buying shares and may
receive less than the current Net Asset Value per Share when selling them. UK-based investors in HSBC ETFs plc are advised that they may
not be afforded some of the protections conveyed by the Financial Services and Markets Act (2000), (the Act). The company is recognised in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority under section 264 of the Act.
All applications are made on the basis of the current HSBC ETFs plc Prospectus, relevant Key Investor Information Document (KIID),
Supplementary Information Document (SID) and Fund supplement, and most recent annual and semi-annual reports, which can be obtained upon
request free of charge from HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited, 8 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HQ. UK, or from a
stockbroker or financial adviser. Investors and potential investors should read and note the risk warnings in the prospectus, relevant KIID,
SID and Fund supplement. The shares in HSBC ETFs plc have not been and will not be offered for sale or sold in the United States of America,
its territories or possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction, or to United States persons. Affiliated companies of HSBC Global Asset
Management (UK) Limited may make markets in HSBC ETFs plc.
The information in this document is based on HSBCs interpretation of current legislation and HM Revenue & Customs practice. While we believe
that this interpretation is correct, we cannot guarantee it. Legislation and tax practice may change in the future. Tax treatment is based upon
individual client circumstances.
HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited provides information to institutions, professional advisers and their clients on the investment
products and services of the HSBC Group. This document is approved for issue in the UK by HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited who
are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Copyright HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited 2016. All rights reserved.

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